Two new EPA pollution regulations will slam the coal industry
so hard that hundreds of thousands of jobs will be lost, and electric rates will
skyrocket 11 percent to over 23 percent, according to a new study based on
government data.

Overall, the rules aimed at making the air cleaner could cost
the coal-fired power plant industry $180 billion, warns a trade group.

�Many of these severe impacts would hit families living in
states already facing serious economic challenges,� said Steve Miller, president
of the American Coalition for Clean Coal Electricity. �Because of these impacts,
EPA should make major changes to the proposed regulations before they are
finalized,� he said.

The EPA, however, tells Whispers that the hit the industry
will suffer is worth the health benefits. �EPA has taken a number of sensible
steps to protect public health, while also working with industry and other
stakeholders to ensure that these important Clean Air Act standards�such as the
first ever national Mercury and Air Toxics Standards for coal-fired power
plants�are reasonable, common-sense, and achievable,� said spokesman Brendan
Gilfillan.
[Read Rep. Darrell Issa: Obama�s Bad Policy, Harmful Regulations Add to Gas
Prices.]

What�s more, officials said that just one of the rules to cut
sulfur dioxide and nitrogen oxide emissions will would yield up to $290 billion
in annual health and welfare benefits in 2014. They say that amounts to
preventing up to 36,000 premature deaths, 26,000 hospital and emergency room
visits, and 240,000 cases of aggravated asthma. �This far outweighs the
estimated annual costs,� says an official on background.

Still, the EPA did note that the two new antipollution rules
are �pending� and that the agency has �accepted and are considering feedback�
from the industry.

The industry says the costs and potential to lose four jobs
for every new clean energy job created isn�t worth the rules, especially in a
job-starved economy.

Referring to the
analysis of the EPA
regulations from National Economic Research Associates, Miller said they
would be the most expensive rules ever imposed on power plants.

Coal-fired energy plants currently fuel about half of the
nation�s energy supply. �